W.L. Miller November Newsletter
* End of the first trimester for grades kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades is on November 15th. Report cards will be given to parents at conferences.
*1:00pm dismissals 11/20, 21 and 22.
*Thanksgiving break 11/23 thru 11/28, school back in session on Wednesday, November 29th--Gobble-Gobble!
Kindergarten
November will be kindergarten’s final month of narrative writing. By now, we are starting to write the sounds we hear in our words. In phonics and reading, we are wrapping up our instruction on the letters of the alphabet and exploring literature. In math, we are just finishing up our exploration of numbers 0-5. This month, we will move onto writing, representing, and counting numbers 6-10. In science, we are coming to an end in our life cycle unit and starting on force and motion (push vs. pull). A part of this month will also be spent on assessments, testing everything we have learned so far this school year, in preparation of report cards and parent/teacher conferences.
Two out of 3 students with good attendance read well by the end of 3rd grade.
1st Grade
Gobble Gobble! That is what first grade will be working on in writing this month! We just wrapped up our narrative writing and are eager to start working on informational writing! We are going to begin by researching turkeys. Ask your child the difference between and a domestic and wild turkey! :-)
Read! Read! Read! Research says the only way to get better at reading is to read! Our students are really learning to fall in love with books! We are working hard at making sure students are reading books that are a good fit for them that allows them to gain some reading confidence leading to reading success.
We just wrapped up addition story problems in math and are moving on to learning all about subtraction! At home, you can practice addition and subtraction math facts!
2nd Grade
As we finish up October, 2nd grade has been doing their best narrative writing, learning about corn, and adding 2 digit numbers, telling time, and using money. As November begins, we will be moving into informational writing, which will connect to many areas of study, including Science and Social Studies. We will be looking at history as we learn more about the first Thanksgiving and how our nation has changed. We will also be using our scientific skills as we explore the weather, seasons, fall harvest, and animals native to Pennsylvania.
We would like to encourage all parents to come out to the school on November 20th to meet with your child’s teacher. She will be able to let you know how your child is doing and share their many educational successes.
As always, remember to read with your child every night.
3rd Grade
October has been a busy month in third grade. In reading we have been focusing on fiction. We have been practicing our close reading skills and digging deeper to better understand what we read. As we move into November we will be turning our attention to informational reading and writing. We have been polishing our computation skills. We have worked our way through multi-digit addition and subtraction. We are now ready to move on to multiplication.
4th Grade
In science class we are reading and interpreting maps. Students are working with a partner at their own pace to learn and practice mapping skills. Some of the activities that the students are doing include; using a compass rose for direction, using a grid system for location of places, measuring based on a map scale, and looking at fossil evidence to determine if the continents have drifted over time. The final project will involve student pairs creating a map that has a hidden secret that other classmates will attempt to find using directions and clues left by the mapmakers.
5th Grade
Writers are just about ready to publish their personal narratives. Our fifth grade authors will be creating books with illustrations. These small moment stories will have a theme, most important part, flashback, and an emotional ending. We will be celebrating this accomplishment by having an Author’s Chair Day. Literature circles are off to a great start! Readers are getting to choose some amazing books to read with their groups. They are learning to build deep discussions about the characters and events in their books.
Corn, barley, peas, radish, and clover...that’s what we have growing in our terrariums! Fifth grade science is studying the optimal conditions for growing common farm crops and determining how environmental factors such as sunlight, temperature, soil nutrients, moisture levels, and space affect the growth of these plants. Students are documenting these changes in one week intervals and will create a “Book Creator” story using descriptive language of the plants’ health and changes over time.
Next up…”How does salinity affect the growth of common farm crops?”
6th Grade
6th graders with good attendance have a 38% higher GPA
Guidance
The 4th grade students in Guidance class are working on the character education topics of courtesy, kindness and caring. We are currently participating in a book study where the theme is kindness and caring.
The students have been reading the book, The One Hundred Dresses. This is a wonderful story about a group of students who are not kind or courteous and the consequences of their actions towards another student. Regardless of how that student is treated, she still shows kindness and caring to others. The group of students learn the true meaning of courtesy and kindness. The book study will wrap up with an educational yet fun culminating activity….a contest...but it’s a secret..so don’t tell! :)
Physical Education
Physical Education classes will be spending some time this month practicing some lead up games and team-building skills. Students in grades K-2 have been working on volleying, juggling, manipulative skills, and scooter activities. Students in grades 3-6 recently finished volleying skills and have spent some time playing one of the all time favorite games, Satellite! November will also be the month for students to learn about some Kinball games. The Kinball is an oversized inflatable ball that students must work together to move. It’s always entertaining to watch our youngest students attempt to move the Kinball!
Music Notes
So much talent, so hard to choose! Congratulations to the following students who have been selected as soloists for our winter concert, which will take place on December 19th:
Evan Miller, Karley Bogaczyk, Olivia Chirwa, Martina Bradford, Cody Steward, Casarra Westmiller, Karson Dominick and Brayden Johnson
Title I
Learning to read between the lines (to infer) is a key to reading comprehension. Here are some tips for helping your youngster make inferences when she/he reads.
Describe the setting - Pick a book & read a few sentences to your child leaving out words that name the setting. Example: “Sand stretched in all directions. . . Cacti dotted the landscape.” Can she/he infer where the story is set? If she/he is not sure, give hints. “Where would you see lots of sand and cacti?”
Look for lessons - Fables are great for reading between the lines. Read one by Aesop and help your child figure out the lesson to be learned. For example, The Tortoise and the Hare teaches that even if you are slow, you can win if you just keep going. Have your child point out parts that she / he used to make this inference. (“The tortoise never stopped and he took one stop after another to the finish line.”)
Use prompts - Questions that begin with “Why do you think…? Or “How do you know…?” can encourage your child to infer. You might ask why she/he thinks a character behaved the way he did or how she/he knows it’s going to snow. Together, look for clues in the book that may help her/him answer the questions.
Art News
Whenever and wherever possible in art classes, the experiences that children have connect to the learning and life that is happening in other places in their day. One of the on-going large goals of the art curriculum is to foster appreciation, thankfulness, and awareness, of the beauty and goodness around us.
While learning about symmetry, geometric shapes, patterns, complementary colors, and visual /spatial organization, students in first grade also learned about Pennsylvania history and the traditions surrounding Amish culture and life. Some of the important points of Pennsylvania Dutch history that we discussed in class are the attention to craftsmanship and handmade items, reusing and upcycling materials, and finding ways to create more beautiful forms in everyday functional items.
Third graders have been discussing the beauty of the landscape that we, as Tioga County residents encounter everyday. While learning about atmospheric perspective (size, placement, overlapping, details, and color in landscapes) we also looked at aerial, birds-eye-view, and patchwork landscape photographs of Mansfield, the PA Grand Canyon, and Tioga County. In these photographs, students were able to describe the horizon lines and fore, middle, and background spaces and recognize the places they live, travel around and see everyday. Capturing the beauty of their surroundings is tradition for artists and students will be looking at the work of contemporary artist, David Hockney for inspiration.
To see more of the lesson content and work in progress, and finished examples of student work - visit the special teacher’s blog at http://wlmspecials.blogspot.com
Library
It has been a busy time in the library with the Book Fair. Thank you to everyone who stopped in to support the library.
Our first series of STEAM classes were a great success! Students in all grades completed activities and projects based around their topic of study. The new marking period will bring a new group of classes to explore the Makerspace and complete hands-on projects.
During the second marking period, we will begin to transition into technology and research units. Students will be reviewing the steps in the resource process and will use technology to locate, share, and present information. We will also move into digital literacy lessons including keyboarding, Microsoft applications, and other programs.
Race for Education Update
Thank you to everyone who participated, who raced, who donated, who helped! We have collected over $26,500.00 and surpassed our goal!
The students who brought in the most labels for their grade level have been rewarded with a lunch out with Mrs. White to Cast and Crew! Several students also won a family pack of movie tickets to the Victoria Theater for bringing in stamps and money. This fundraiser is a total success because of YOU.
Thank YOU for all of your contributions!
Box Tops for Education
Many products have bonus box tops. For a complete listing of products or answers to questions you might have about the program, go to www.boxtops4education.com
All box tops collected can be placed in the collection can located in the office or sent in with your student.
Any questions, call Kathy Evans at 570‐549‐7321.
Lost and Found
The new year is here! Parents, please have your children check the lost and found for any items that they have misplaced at any time during the year. Parents may sign in to the office and check the lost and found first thing in the morning or right after school. The weather is always changing and often not consistent and many clothing items show up in the lost and found throughout the school year.